From the 1885 History of Steuben County, Indiana

page 717

David Sams, deceased, was born in Pennsylvania, Dec. 6, 1801, and removed to Richland County, Ohio, where he was married April 10, 1822, to Elizabeth Baker, a native of Baltimore County Md., born June 20, 1800. In June, 1835, Mr. Sams with his brother-in-law, Andrew Welch, started for the State of Illinois, for the purpose of locating land. On reaching Jackson Prairie they were so well pleased with the country that they decided to remain and therefore Mr. Sams bought forty acres on section 8, and entered 120 acres adjoining. They returned to Ohio and the following August brought their families to their home in the wilderness. They built a cabin in which three families lived till they could clear some land and sow some wheat. Mr. Sams then built another house, Mr. Welch remaining in the first one. For a year or more the settlers found a market for their grain at home, the incoming settlers being obliged to purchase till they could raise crops of their own. Then for ten or twelve years their market was Fort Wayne. Mr. Sams lived where he first settled till his death April 16, 1874. He was a prominent citizen and was the first Assessor of Steuben County. Mrs. Sams still lives on the homestead. Their family consisted of eight children, but six of whom are living -- Mary Jane, wife of Charles Trux, of Williams County, Ohio; Darius; Sarah Ann, widow of Alexander Carpenter; Abdella, of Salem Township; Amasa, of Jackson Prairie; and Henry, of Pleasant Township. Darius, the eldest son, was born in Richland County, Ohio, June 1, 1829. He was married in 1853 to Mrs. Phoebe Sams, widow of his brother Daniel, and daughter of Nehemiah Lounsbury, who settled in Jackson Township in 1845. Mrs. Lounsbury died Jan. 16, 1850, and Mr. Lounsbury, Jan. 16, 1871. Mrs. Sams was born in New York in 1832.

Submitted by Kim Davoli

E-mail: davoli82@juno.com